Apparatus for treating granular materials



May 4, 1954 K. J. MENNING 2,677,195

APPARATUS FOR TREATING GRANULAR MATERIALS Filed June 26, 1951 2Sheets-Sheet l 6 Z ,M INVENTOR- BY W May 4, 1954 K. J. MENNING 2,677,195

APPARATUS FOR TREATING GRANULAR MATERIALS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June26, 1951 Patented May 4, 1954 NITED STATES FATENT OFFICE APPARATUS FORTREATING GRANULAR MATERIALS burg, Germany Application June 26, 1951,Serial No. 233,550

Claims priority, application Germany June 26, 1959 (C1. E l-63) 17Claims.

The present invention. relates to a process and apparatus for treatinggranular materials such as coffee, grain, barley, pharmaceuticalproducts and vegetable foodstufis. More particularly, the presentinvention relates to a process and apparatus for drying and/or roasting,as well as meaning such granular materials.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a process andapparatus for treating granular materials in a continuous, rapid andeffective manner.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a process andapparatus for subjecting the granular material only to the influence ofrays during a part of the treatment thereof.

Still another object of the present invention is to fully utilize all ofthe energy of the infrared rays.

further object of the present invention is to provide a means forautomatically removing overdried or over-roasted materials.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a simplemounting structure for the parts of the device of the present inven- Yetanother object of the present invention is to provide a means forobserving and regulating the rate of flow of material to the apparatusof the present invention.

With the above objects in view, the present 11 mainly consists of aprocess and apratus for subjecting the granular material to i only tothe influence of infra-red rays g one part of its treatment andsubsequently cooling the thus treated materials. The material may bedried between the cooling stage and the where it is treated withinfra-red rays, the latter may be concentrated by reflectors. The dryingof the material is brought about by air which is heated by the infra-redand this air may be preheated before it is further heated by theinfra-red rays.

The apparatus for carrying out the invention comprises an elongatedrotatably mounted drum which has a closed entrance end and an open exitend. The closed entrance end is mounted at a higher elevation than theopen exit end of the drum so that the axis of rotation of the drum isdownwardly inclined towards the exit end tiereof. The interior of thedrum may be provided with two or three portions in which the granularmaterial is processed, and these portions may have inner fluted surfacesso as to guide the granular material in small streams along the interiorof the rotating drum. A source of infra-red rays is mounted adjacent theentrance end of the drum to subject the material supplied to theentrance end of the drum only to the influence of infra-red rays, and atthis portion of the drum, where the material is treated with infra-redrays, the drum may be provided with spiral blading to conduct thematerial along the drum, rather than a fluted inner surface. The sourceof infra-red rays is removably mounted in a hollow support. Airconducting means may be located either at the exit end of the or beforethe last treating portion of the drum to conduct fresh air into thislast portion through the open exit end of the drum so as to cool andclean the material. This air conducting means may draw air through thehollow support means for the source of infrared rays so that this air isheated by the source of infra-red rays and dries the material at anintermediate treating portion of the drum. Between the intermediate andlast treating porions of the drum, the drum may be perforated and havethe air conducting means located around its perforated portion so thatany overroasted or overdried grains of the material will pass throughthe perforations of the drum and outwardly with the air drawntherethrough.

The novel features which are considered as characteristic for theinvention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. Theinvention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method ofoperation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, willbe best understood from the following description of specificembodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings, inwhich:

Fig. 1 is an elevational, partially diagrammatic and partially sectionalview of one embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a partially sectional and partially diagrammatic view ofanother embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention;

Fig. 3 is a view of a detail of the present invention taken along line3-3 of Fig. 1 in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 4. is a partially sectional and partially diagrammatic elevationalview of still another embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 5 is a view of a detail of the present invention taken along line5-5 of Fig. 4 in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 6 is a transverse sectional view of a part of the drum;

Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 6 diagram- 3 matically showingtwodifferent embodiments of the inner drum surface; and

Fig. 8 is a partially sectional and partially diagrammatic elevationalview of still another embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to the drawings, there is shown in Fig. 1 the drum I having anentrance end ii and an exit end I2. The entrance end ii is at a higherelevation than the exit end l2 so that the axis of rotation of the drumis downwardly inclined towards the exit end thereof.

Located adjacent the entrance end I! of the drum I0 is the supportingstructure E3 upon which is fixedly mounted the chamber is and the hollowsupport [5 which is provided at one end thereof with a rearwardly bentcircular flange portion I6. As is apparent from Fig. 3, the hollowsupport i5 is slotted along its top portion and the opposite sides ofthe slot are beveled. Mounted in this slot so as to fill the same is theelongated support member I? which has an upwardly bent end 28 located inoverlapping relation over a cut away portion it of the flange is whichcommunicates with the slot in the up per part of hollow support memberE5. The elongated support member ll also has opposite beveled sideswhich mate with the sides of the abovementioned slot. The hollow supportmember 55 is provided with a plurality of spaced apertures in itslowermost part, and the support member H is provided with sockets alongthe length thereof respectively located over these apertures. In thesesockets are mounted infra-red ray lamps which fill and seal theapertures in the lower part of hollow support l5. These lam s may beconnected in any suitable manner with a source of current, such as bypassing electrical wires through the upwardly bent portion it of supportmember I? and out through the chamber M. The flange I6 is provided withan annular bearing surface portion 2! which has right-angled bendtherein, and the entrance end I i of the drum is provided with an outerannular flange 22 which cooperates with the bearing means 2! to supportthe drum for rotation.

Supply hopper '23 for the material to be treated is mounted over thedrum in any suitable manner, and the conduit 2:! extends from the hopper23 through the flange l6 and into the interior of the drum. As isapparent from Fig. 3, conduit 24 is located to one side of the hollowsup-- port IS.

The chamber M is apertured at parts 25 and 26 thereof so that air may beadmitted into the same, and an electrical heating means 2? is fixedlymounted in the chamber Hi so as to heat such air.

Adjacent the exit end of the drum there is located the support member 23which has mounted thereon the motor 29 and the fan as which communicatesat its outlet side with the air discharge conduit 3l. The inlet side offan 35 communicates with the tube 32 which is fixedly con-- nected tothe fan and extends into the drum. Mounted about the tube 32 is thecollection chamber 33 which is provided with a bearing ring 34 forrotatably supporting the exit end of the drum. The collection chamber 33is apertured at 35 and 36, for example, and is provided with a dischargespout 3! from which the processed material is discharged. Air dischargeconduit 3| communicates with a centrifugal separator device 38 of anyknown construction for separating dust and any other foreign matter fromthe discharged air.

The drum I!) may be rotated in any suitable manner, and in theparticular example shown a gear 39 is fixedly mounted about the drum andmeshes with a pinion it] driven by the motor ii which is fixedly mountedon the support 42.

The drum [0 is divided into three portions. The first portion 43 islocated adjacent the entrance end of the drum and is provided with thespiral blade means 44 which is fixedly connected to the inner surface ofthe drum for rotation therewith. The second portion :15 of the drum islocated adjacent the exit end E2 thereof and is provided with an innerfluted surface. The third portion it of the drum is located between thefirst and second portions thereof and is also provided with an innerfluted surface. Respcc tively located between the third portion ll-7 andthe first and second portions 43 and of the drum are the pair of blademeans "57 and 28 which simply consist of plate members fixedly connectedby welding, for example, at one edge thereof to the interior surface ofthe drum and extending into the interior of the drum at an angle to theaxis of rotation of the drum, as is illustrated in Fig. 1.

The operation of the above-described embodiment of the invention is asfollows:

Granular material is supplied from hopper 23 in a continuous mannerthrough the conduit 2 to the entrance end of the drum which is sealed bythe flange it of the hollow support member E5. The spiral blading 44 inthe first portion 43 of the drum rotates with the drum, which is rotatedby motor ii and gears 39 and 0, so as to convey the granular material tothe blade means 4?, which receives the granular material from the firstportion 53 from the drum and delivers it to the third portion 46thereof. In this third portion 425 of the drum, the granular materialflows in the fiutings in small rivulets toward the exit end of the drumdue to the inclined axis of the drum. Blade means 58 receives thegranular material from the third portion and delivers it to the secondportion 45 of the drum, where it also flows in small rivulets to theexit end of the drum where it is collected in the collection chamber 33and passes to the discharge spout 3'1.

The fan ac, driven by the motor 2%, draws air from the second portion 45of the drum into the tube 32 and outwardly through the air dischargeconduit 3!. Fresh air is thereby drawn into the second portion 35 of thedrum through the apertures 35 and 35 of the collection chamber 33 so asto cool and clean granular material in the second portion 45 of thedrum. The suction of air into the tube 32 through the open right handend thereof, as viewed in Fig. 1, draws air through the apertures 25 and2 5 into the chamber it and through the hollow support means [5 into thethird portion 55 of the drum.

The hollow support means prevents any of this air from communicatingwith the granular material in the first portion of the drum &3 so thatthe material in this first portion is subjected only to the influence ofinfra-red rays from the lamps 21} which seal the apertures in the hollowsup port l5. The electrical heating means 2? preheats the air whichpasses through the hollow support [5, and this air is further heated bythe lamps 29 so that none of the energy of the lamps 20 is wasted. Thisair, as it passes to the tube 32, dries the material passing through thethird portion 46 of the drum. The blade means 4'! and 48 respectivelyreceive material from the first and third portions of the drum anddistribute it over the third and second portions of the drum.

The embodiment of the invention which is illustrated in Fig. 2 issubstantially the same as that illustrated in Fig. 1, except that air issupplied in an already preheated state to the chamber i i through theconduit 5i! so that the embodiment of Fig. 2 does not include theelectrical heating means 2?. The air delivered to chamber Hi in thismanner may be preheated in any suitable manner by apparatus independentof the processing apparatus. The embodiment of Fig. 2 also differs fromthe embodiment of Fig. l in that the drum is perforated about the blademeans 48 and communicates with the hollow housing 5! which has a pair ofbearing rings 52 for rotatably supporting the drum. The fan means 38draws air from the interior of the drum through the housing 5! anddelivers it to the discharge conduit 3!. The centrifugal separator means33 is operatively connected to the fan 38 for separating dust and otherforeign matter from the air drawn from the drum. Air is drawn into thethird portion 65 of the drum through perforated collection chamber 33 inthe same way as the embodiment of Fig. 1.

The purpose of the apertures in the drum about blade means G8 is toprovide a means for automatically removing from the granual materialparticles thereof which have been overdried or over-roasted and so havebecome smaller than the remaining grains of the granular material andwill pass through the perforations of the drum with the air drawntherethrough, since these perforations are smaller than the grains ofthe material which are not overdried or overroasted. Thus, theembodiment of Fig. 2 is capable of automatically producing food productswhich will not have the quality and aroma thereof spoiled byover-processed particles of the material.

Referring now to Fig. 4 of the drawings, there is shown a drum G0 whichhas an entrance end ti and an exit end 52. The entrance end of the drumis fixedly connected to the outer race ring of the ball bearing 53 whichhas its inner race ring supported by the annular, right-angled ring as.on the frame member 65. Removably mounted over the space included by thering 64 is the stationary cover means 66 which fills this space andwhich is provided with an aperture through which the hollow support 61extends so as to fill this aperture. The hollow support 61 extends fromthe stationary tube 68 which apertured at 69 and which is supported onthe frame is and connected to the inlet side of the fan 1| operativelyconnected to the motor I2 moimted on the support 13. Fan ll has itsoutlet side connected to the air discharge conduit 14. The exit end 62of the drum 60 is apertured and fixedly connected to the outer race ringof the ball bearing is which has its inner race ring supported on thetube 68.

The elongated hollow support 61 has a slot extending along its lowerportion, and over this slot in overlapping relation thereto, is mountedthe bar it which is provided with sockets to support the pear-shapedlamps H which provide a source of infra-red rays. The necks of theselamps it pass through the slot in the lower part of support 6i and areconnected to the sockets in bar 56. Electrical wiring maybe mounted inany suitable manner in the bar 13 and con- Figs. 6

nected to a source of current, and switches 18 are mounted on theoutwardly extending right hand end of bar it and interconnected with thelamps in any suitable manner so as to enable individual lamps orindividual groups of lamps to be energized at will. Collection chamberi9 is located at the exit end 62 of drum 6i] to receive granularmaterial therefrom and is provided with a discharge spout 80.

Hopper Si is located above the drum adjacent the entrance end thereofand is provided with the material to be treated which is delivered tothe telescoped conduit means 82 which is provided with a lower slidableconduit member that delivers the granular material to the funnelshapedchamber 83. From chamber 83 material is delivered by conduit 86 to theentrance end iii of the drum 69. The conduit 84 passes through the cover8% and is located to one side of the elongated support 61. The conduitmeans 82 is provided with a butterfly valve 85 adjacent the lower end ofhopper SI for controlling the rate of fiow of the granular material, andthe rate of flow may be observed by raising the movable conof thetelescoped conduit means 82.

ihe drum $8 is driven by a. motor and gear means similar to thatdescribed in connection with the embodiments of Figs. 1 and 2. Theinterior of the drum $8 is provided with a first treating portion 86adjacent the entrance end 6% therof with a second treating portion 81adjacent the exit end 62 thereof. These treating portions each haveinner fluted surfaces formed by corrugated sheet material, as isillustrated in and 7. As is shown in Fig. 6 the corrugated sheetmaterial 88 may have equal curved depressions and projections and may bemounted against the inner surface of the shell of drum 65 so as toprovide an insulating air space between the material 88 .and the outershell of drum 85 to insulate the interior of the drum from the exteriorthereof. Instead of the corrugated sheet material 88, the interior ofthe drum may be provided with corrugated sheet material 89 which hascurved projections and depressions, and in which the curved depressionsare wider than the curved projections so that larger rivulets ofmaterial may flow along the drum. Instead of providing the sheetmaterial with curved projections and depressions, a corrugated sheetmaterial as which has straight inclined sides and substantially equalprojections and depressions may be used. Between the portions 85 and 8'!of the drum t l where the corrugated sheet material 88, 39 or 9c islocated, the drum 6% is provided with an annular blade means SI ofsubstantially the same construction as the blade means i! and ii:described above, and drum ti? is also provided with annular blade means92 before the portion 86 at the entrance end 6i thereof. This blademeans E2 is also of the same construction as the above-described blademeans ll and 58.

it is apparent that the embodiment of Fig. 4 difiers from theembodiments described above in that a spiral blade means and a thirddrying portion are omitted. No heated air is drawn into the apparatus ofFig. i, and the material simply flows along the fluted portion 86 whereit is subjected only to the influence of the infra-red rays emanatingfrom the pear-shaped lamps ii. The granular material flows in rivuletsalong the fiuted portion 86 and is transferred by the blade means 8! tothe portion 8"! of the drum where it also flows in rivulets along theflutes thereof to the collection chamber 19. The air in the portion 87of the drum is drawn into the tube 68 through the perforations 69 anddischarged from the drum through the conduit 1 Fresh air is therebydrawn into the drum 6!] through the apertured end 82 thereof, and thisfresh air cools and cleans the granular material in portion 81 of thedrum.

The right hand edge of support 61, as viewed in Fig. 4, is provided witha hinged door 93 which has a cut-out portion closely fitting over thebar '16 so that the right hand end of the hollow support 8? is sealed.The hinged door 93 may be turned upwardly away from the bar ":6 so thatthe latter may be slidably removed from the hollow support 8? with thepear-shaped lamps 7. The cover 66 may be made of overlapping pieceswhich are removably connected to the frame 55 so that the lamps I? maybe withdrawn after the cover 65 is disconnected from the support 65.

The embodiment of the invention which is illustrated in Fig. 8 issimilar to that illustrated in Fig. 4 except that cover 64' which may bemade of overlapping pieces, bears against the entrance end of the drumto seal the same and is located about the support 5? and conduit 85. Thecover 64' is reinovably connected to support 9 extending upwardly fromthe support 95 upon which is provided the frame 96 which rotatablysupports the roller 91. Instead of roller bearing the drum 5E! of Fig. 8is provided with an annular bearing ring 98 which rests on the roller 9?so as to rotatably support the drum. 'II'he hollow support 6'!" is ofsubstantially the same construction as support 6? but extends to theframe 55' to which it is connected by the angle bar 98. f'he embodimentof Fig. 8 also differs from the embodiment of Fig. 4 in that the rollerbearing 75 is directly supported on the frame it and the exit end 62' ofdrum B8 is located inwardly of the roller bearing '35. Exit end 52 ofdrum SE is provided with a plurality of apertures iflfi through whichfresh air is drawn into portion 3? of drum 53 by substantially the samestructure as described above.

The embodiment of Fig. 8 further differs from the embodiment of Fig. 4in that elongated lamps it! are provided to produce a source ofinfra-red rays, and these lamps ill! have reflectors l 32 connected tothe same so as to direct the infra-red rays downwardly directly onto thegranular material located in the lower part of drum SS in the portion85.

It is believed apparent that the above-described embodiments of theinvention provide a process and means for treating granular materials ina continuous, rapid manner so as to dry and/or roast the same. Also theabove process and apparatus provides a means for subjecting materialonly to the influence of infra-red rays which has the result ofuniformly treating the material through its entire thickness. Also, theprocess and apparatus for conveying the mat rial in the drum in narrow,flowing rivulets has been found to be a very efiicient manner oftransporting the granular material. By the adjustable flow meansillustrated in Fig. 4 it is possible to regulate the flow of thematerial through the drum so that the best possible treatment isproduced in a continuous manner.

It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or twoor more together, may also find a useful application in other types ofprocess and apparatus for treating granular material difiering from thetypes described above.

While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodied in aprocess and apparatus for treating granular material by first subjectingthe same only to the influence of infra-red rays and then cooling andcleaning the same, it is not intended to be limited to the detailsshown, since various modifications and structural changes may be madewithout departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist ofthe present invention that others can by applying current knowledgereadily adapt it for various applications without omitting featuresthat, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essentialcharacteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this inventionand, therefore, such adaptations should and are intended to becomprehended within the meaning and range of equivalence of thefollowing claims.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. Apparatus for treating granular material, comprising in combination,a rotatably mounted hollow drum having a closed entrance end and an openexit end, said entrance end of said drum being located at a higherelevation than said exit end thereof so that the axis of rotation ofsaid drum is downwardly inclined towards the exit end thereof, said drumhaving a first portion located adjacent said entrance end thereof and asecond portion located adjacent said exit end thereof, and said secondportion of said drum having an inner fluted surface; supply meansconunumcating with said first portion of said drum for continuallysupplying granular material thereto; a stationary source of infraredrays mounted in said first portion of said drum; and air conductingmeans mounted in said second portion of said drum for conducting freshair thereto, said air conducting means comprising a stationary tubemounted in said second portion of said drum and communicating with theinterior of said second portion of said drum, and suction meanscommunicating with the interior of said tube for drawing air from saidsecond portion through said tube so as to thereby draw fresh air intosaid second portion of said drum through said open exit end thereof.

2. Apparatus for treating granular materials, comprising in combination,a rotatably mounted hollow drum having a closed entrance end and an openexit end, said entrance end of said drum being located at a higherelevation than said exit end thereof so that the axis of rotation ofsaid drum is downwardly inclined towards the exit end thereof, said drumhaving a first portion located adjacent said entrance end thereof and asecond portion located adjacent said exit end thereof, and said portionsof said drum each having an inner fluted surface; supply meanscommunicating with said first portion of said drum for continuallysupplying granular material thereto; a stationary source of infra-redrays removably mounted in said first portion of said drum; and airconducting means mounted in said second portion of said drum forconducting fresh air thereto, said air conducting means comprising astationary tube mounted in said second portion of said drum andcommunicating with the interior of said second portion of said drum, andsuction means communicating with the interior of said tubefor drawingair from said second portion through said tube so as to thereby drawfresh air into said second portion of said drum through said open exitend thereof.

3. Apparatus for treating granular materials, comprising in combination,a rotatably mounted hollow drum having a closed entrance end and an openexit end, said entrance end of said drum being located at a higherelevation than said exit end thereof so that the axis of rotation ofsaid drum is downwardly inclined towards the exit end thereof, said drumhaving a first portion located adjacent said entrance end thereof and asecond portion located adjacent said exit end thereof, and said portionsof said drum each having an inner fiuted surface; supply meanscommunicating with said first portion of said drum for continuallysupplying granular material thereto; a stationary source of infra-redrays removably mounted in said first portion of said drum; airconducting means mounted in said second portion of said drum forconducting fresh air thereto, said air conducting means comprising astationary tube mounted in said second portion of said drum andcommunicating with the interior of said second portion of said drum, andsuction means communicating with the interior of said tube for drawingair from said second portion through said tube so as to thereby drawfresh air into said second portion of said drum through said open exitend thereof; and annular blade means fixedly mounted in said drumbetween said first and second portions thereof for conveying materialfrom said first portion to said second portion of said drum.

4. Apparatus for treating granular materials, comprising in combination,a rotatably mounted hollow drum having a closed entrance end and an openexit end, said entrance end of said drum being located at a higherelevation than said exit end thereof so that the axis of rotation ofsaid drum is downwardly inclined towards the exit end thereof, said drumhaving a first portion located adjacent said entrance end thereof and asecond portion located adjacent said exit end thereof, and said portionsof said drum each having an inner fluted surface; supply meanscommunicating with said first portion of said drum for continuallysupplying granular mate- .1 thereto; a stationary source of infra-redrays movably mounted in said first portion of said in; air conductingmeans mounted in said Wcond portion of said drum for conducting freshair thereto, said air conducting means comprising a stationary tubemounted in said second portion of said. drum and communicating with theinterior I of said second portion of said drum, and suction meanscommunicating with the interior of said tube for drawing air from saidsecond portion through said tube so as to thereby draw fresh air intosecond portion of said drum through said open exit end thereof; firstannular blade means fixedly mounted in said drum between said first andsecond portions thereof for conveying material. from said first portionto said second portion of said drum; and second annular blade meansmounted in said drum at said entrance end thereof for receiving materialfrom said supply means and delivering the same to said first portion ofsaid drum.

5. Apparatus for treating granular materials, comprising in combination,a rotatably mounted hollow drum having a closed entrance end and openexit end, said entrance end of said drum being located at a higherelevation than said exit end thereof so that the axis of rotation ofsaid drum is downwardly inclined towards the exit end thereof, said drumhaving a first portion located adjacent said entrance end thereof and asecond portion located adjacent said exit end thereof, and said portionsof said drum each having an inner fluted surface portion made of acorrugated sheet material mounted in said drum against the outer shellthereof; supply means communicating with said first portion of said drumfor continually supplying granular material thereto; a stationary sourceof infra-red rays removably mounted in said first portion of said drum;conducting means mounted in said second portion of said drum forconducting fresh air thereto, said air conducting means comprising astationary tube mounted in said second portion of said drum andcommunicating with the interior of said second portion of said drum, andsuction means communicating with the interior of said tube for drawingair from said second portion through said tube so as to thereby drawfresh air into said second portion of said drum through said open exitend thereof; first annular blade means fixedly mounted in said drumbetween said first and second portions thereof for conveying materialfrom said first portion to said second portion of said drum; and secondannular blade means mounted in said drum at said entrance end thereoffor receiving material from said supply means and delivering the same tosaid portion of said drum.

6. Apparatus for treating granular materials, comprising in combination,a rotatably mounted hollow drum having a closed entrance end and an openexit end, said entrance end of said drum being located at a higherelevation than said exit end thereof so that the axis of rotation ofsaid drum is downwardly inclined towards the exit end thereof, said drumhaving a first portion located adjacent said entrance end thereof and asecond portion located adjacent said exit end thereof, and said portionsof said drum each have an inner fluted surface portion made of acorrugated sheet metal mounted in said drum against the outer shellthereof, said corrugated sheet material having substantially equalcurved p1 ,iections and depressions; supply means communicating withsaid first portion of said drum for continually supplying granularmaterial thereto; a stationary source of infra-red rays removablymounted in said first portion of said air conducting means mounted insaid second portion of said drum for conducting fresh air thereto, saidair conducting means comprising a stationary tube mounted in said secondportion of said drum and communicating with the interior of said secondportion of said drum, and suction means communicating with the interiorof said tube for drawing air from said second portion through said tubeso as to thereby draw fresh air into said second portion of said drumthrough said open exit end thereof; first annular blade means fixedlymounted in said drum between said first and second portions thereof forconveying material from said first portion to said second portion ofsaid drum; and second annular blade means mounted in said drum at saidentrance end thereof for receiving material from said supply means anddelivering the same to said first portion of said drum.

7. Apparatus for treating granular materials, comprising in combination,a rotatably mounted hollow drum having a closed entrance end and an openexit end, said entrance end of said drum being located at a higherelevation than said exit end thereof so that the axis of rotation ofsaid drum is downwardly inclined towards the exit end thereof, said drumhaving a first portion located adjacent said entrance end thereof and asecond portion located adjacent said exit end thereof, and said portionsof said drum each having an inner fiuted surface portion made of acorrugated sheet material mounted in said drum against the outer shellthereof, said corrugated material having curved projections anddepressions and said curved depressions being wider than said curvedprojections; supply means communicating with said first portion of saiddrum for continually supplying granular material thereto; a stationarysource of infra-red rays removably mounted in said first portion of saiddrum; air conducting means mounted in said second portion of said drumfor conducting fresh air thereto, said air conducting means comprising astationary tube mounted in said second portion of said drum andcommunicating with the interior of said second portion of said drum, andsuction means communicating with the interior of said tube for drawingair from said second portion through said tube so as to thereby drawfresh air into said second portion of said drum through said open exitend thereof; first annular blade means fixedly mounted in said drumbetween said first and second portions thereof for conveying materialfrom said first portion to said second portion of said drum; and secondannular blade means mounted in said drum at said entrance end thereoffor receiving material from said supply means and delivering the same tosaid first portion of said drum.

8. Apparatus for treating granular materials, comprising in combination,a rotatably mounted hollow drum having a closed entrance end and an openexit end, said entrance end of said drum being located at a higherelevation than said exit end thereof so that the axis of rotation ofsaid drum is downwardly inclined towards the exit end thereof, said drumhaving a first portion located adjacent said entrance end thereof and asecond portion located adjacent said exit end thereof, and said portionsof said drum each having an inner fluted surface portion made of acorrugated sheet material mounted in said drum against the outer shellthereof, said corrugated material having equal projections anddepressions, and said projections and depressions all having straightinclined sides; supply means communicating with said first portion ofsaid drum for continually supplying granular material thereto:stationary source infra-red rays removably mounted in said first portionof said drum; air conducting means mounted in said second portion ofsaid drum for conducting fresh air thereto, said air conducting meanscomprising a stationary tube mounted in said second portion of said drumand communicating with the interior of said second portion of said drum,and suction means communicating with the interior of said tube fordrawing air from said second portion through said tube so as to therebydraw fresh air into said second portion of said drum through said openexit end thereof; first annular blade means fixedly mounted in said drumbetween said first and second portions thereof for conveying materialfrom said first portion to said second portion of said drum; and secondannular blade means mounted in said drum at said entrance end thereoffor receiving material from said supply means and delivering the same tosaid first portion of said drum.

9.' Apparatus for treating granular material,

iii

comprising in combination, a rotatably mounted hollow drum having aclosed entrance end and an open exit end, said entrance end of said drumbeing located at a higher elevation than said exit end thereof so thatthe axis of rotation of said drum is downwardly inclined towards theexit end thereof, said drum having a first portion located adjacent saidentrance end thereof and a second portion located adjacent said exit endthereof, and said second portion of said drum having an inner flutedsurface; supply means communicating with said first portion of said drumfor continually supplying granular material thereto; a stationary sourceof infra-red rays mounted in said first portion of said drum; airconducting means mounted in said second portion of said drum forconducting fresh air there to, said air conducting means comprising astationary tube mounted in said second portion of said drum andcommunicating with the interior of said second portion of said drum, andsuction means communicating with the interior of said tube for drawingair from said second portion through said tube so as to thereby drawfresh air into said second portion of said drum through said open exitend thereof; and hollow support means extending from said stationarytube through said first portion of said drum and supporting said sourceof infra-red rays in the same.

10. Apparatus for treating granular material, comprising in combination,a rotatably mounted hollow drum having a closed entrance end and an openexit end, said entrance end of said drum being located at a higherelevation than said exit end thereof so that the axis of rotation ofsaid drum is downwardly inclined towards the exit end thereof, said drumhaving a first portion located adjacent said entrance end thereof and asecond portion located adjacent said exit end thereof, and said secondportion of said drum having an inner fluted surface; supply meanscommunicating with said first portion of said drum for continuallysupplying granular material thereto; a stationary source of infra-redrays mounted in said first portion of said drum; air conducting meansmounted in said second portion of said drum for conducting fresh airthereto, said air conducting means comprising a stationary tube mountedin said second portion of said drum and communicating with the interiorof said second portion of said drum, and suction means communicatingwith the interior of said tube for drawing air from said second portionthrough said tube so as to thereby draw fresh air into said secondportion of said drum through said open exit end thereof; hollow supportmeans extending from said stationary tube through said first portion ofsaid drum and supporting said source of infra-red rays in the same; andreflector means mounted about said source of infra-red rays forconcentrating the same.

11. Apparatus for treating granular material, comprising in combination,a rotatably mounted hollow drum having a closed entrance end and an openexit end, said entrance end of said drum being located at a higherelevation than said exit end thereof so that the axis of rotation ofsaid drum is downwardly inclined towards the exit end thereof, said drumhaving a first portion located adjacent said entrance end thereof and asecond portion located adjacent said exit end thereof, and said secondportion of said drum having an inner fluted surface; supply meanscommunicating with said first portion of said drum for continuallysupplying granular material thereto; a

stationary source of infra-red rays mounted in said first portion ofsaid drum; air conducting means mounted in said second portion of saiddrum for conducting fresh air thereto, said air conducting meanscomprising a stationary tube mounted in said second portion of said drumand communicating with the interior of said second portion of said drum,and suction means communicating with the interior of said tube fordrawing air from said second portion through said tube so as to therebydraw fresh air into said second portion of said drum through said openexit end thereof; hollow support means extending from said stationarytube through said first portion of said drum and supporting said sourceof infra-red rays in t c sazne; reflector means mounted about saidsource of infra-red rays for concentrating the same; first bearing meansoperatively connected to said drum adjacent said entrance end thereofior supporting the same for rotation; and second bearing meansoperatively connected to said exit end of said drum for supporting thesame for rotation, said second bearing means being located about andsupported by said stationary tube.

Apparatus for treating material, cor ising in combination, a rotatablymounted hollow drum having a closed entrance end and an open exit end,said entrance end of said ng located at a higher elevation than e t endthereof so that the (is of rotation of said drum is downwardly inclinedthe end thereof, said drum having first portion located adjacent saidentrance end thereof, second portion located adjacent said exit endthereof and a third portion located between d first and second portions,said second th portions of said drum each having an inner flute-a s*ace; hollow stationary support means mount ed -n said first portion or"said drum and nu iicating with the exterior of drum through said closedent 106 end t eo'f said cw support means sing iorrne with pluty ofapertures; a source of inira-red rays rinted in said hollow supportmeans, said cc of infra-red rays said apertures rs so as to close thesame rst communicating tion or sai drum through said apertures; andmeans mounted in said second drum for conducting fresh air rot-o, saidair conducting means comprising tionary tube mounted in second portiondrum and communicating with the insection means communicating with theinterior of said tube for drawing air from said second portion saiddruin through said tube so as 1 thereby dr w fresh air into said nor ofsaid drum through said open e end of, said suction also drawing ough.said hollow support in ins and said portion of said drum to tube,whereby he air passing through hollow support means is heated by saidsource oi inira'red rays and t ies granular material located in saidthird ion of said drum.

Apparatus for treating granular material, co prising n combination, arotatably mounted low drum a closed open exit end, said ent -ance endor" said drum being located at a higher elevation than said end thereofso that the axis of rotation of said drum is downwardiy inclined towardsthe exit end thereof, said drum having a first poror of second portionof said drum and entrance end tion located adjacent said entrance endthereof and a second portion located adjacent said exit end thereof, andsaid second portion of said drum having an inner fluted surface; supplymeans communicating 'ith said first portion of said for continuallysupplying granular material thereto, said supply means comprising amovabiy mounted conduit and a hopper to which material is delivered fromsaid conduit, whereby, when said. movably mounted conduit is moved awayfrom said hopper, the rate of flow of granular material may be observed;a stationary source of infra-red rays mounted in said first portion ofdrum; air conducting means mounted in second portion of said drum forconducting fresh air thereto, said air conducting means comprising astationary tube mounted in said second portion of said drum andcommunicating with the interior of said second portion of said drum, andsuction means communicating with the interior of said tube for drawingair from said second portion through said tube so to thereby draw freshair into said second portion of drum through said open exit end thereof;hollow support means extending from said stationary tube through saidfirst portion of drum and supporting said source of infrared rays in thesame; and reflector means mountaoout said source of infra-red rays forconcentrating the same.

l i. Apparatus for treating granular materiai, comprising in.combination, a rotatably mounted hollow drum haying a closed entranceend and an open exit end, said entrance end of said drum located at ahigher elevation said rotation of a J end thereof so that the axis ofsaid drum is downwardly inclined toward the exit end thereof, said drumhaving a first portion located adjacent said entrance end thereof, asecond portion located adjacent said exit end thereof and a thirdportion located between said first and second portions, said second andthird portions of said drum each having an inner fluted surface; hollowstationary support means mounted in said first portion of said drum andcornmunicating with the exterior of said drum through said closedentrance end thereof, said hollow support means being formed with aplurality of apertures; a source of infra-red rays mounted in saidhollow support means, said source of infra-red rays filling saidapertures of said support means so as to close the same andcommunicating with the interior of said portion of said drum throughsaid apertures; air conducting zneans mounted in said second portion ofsaid drum for conducting resh air thereto, said air conducting meanscomprising a stationary tube mounted in said second portion of said drumand communicating with the interior of said second portion of said drumand suction means communicating with the interior of said tube drawingair from said second portion or" said drum through said tube so as tothereby draw fresh air into said second portion of drum through saidopen exit end thereof, suction means also drawing air through saidhollow support means and said third portion of said drum to said tube,whereby the air pass through said hollow support means is heated by saidsource of infra-red rays and dries granular material located in saidthird portion of said drum; spiral blade means fixedly mounted in saidfirst portion of said drum for rotation therewith and for conveyingmaterial along said first portion of said drum; and a pair or" annularblade means respectively mounted between said third portion of said drumand said first and second portions thereof for conveying material fromsaid first portion to said third portion of d drum and from said thirdportion of said drr. a to said second portion thereof.

15. Apparatus for treating granular material, comprising in combination,a rotatably mounted iollow drum having a closed entrance end and an openexit end, said entrance end of said drum being located at a higherelevation than said exit end thereof so that the axis of rotation ofsaid drum is downwardly inclined toward the exit end thereof, said drumhaving a first portion located adjacent said entrance end thereof, asecond portion located adjacent said exit end thereof and a thirdportion located between said first and second portions, said second andthird portions or said drum each having an inner fiuted surface; hollowstationary support means mounted in said first portion of said drum andcommunicating with the exterior of said drum through said closedentrance end thereof, said hollow support means being formed with aplurality of apertures; a source of infra-red rays mounted in saidhollow support means, said source of infra-red rays fill.- ing saidapertures of said support means so as to close the same andcommunicating with the interior of said first portion of said drumthrough said apertures; air conducting means mounted in said secondportion of said drum for conducting fresh air thereto, said airconducting means con1- prising a stationary tube mounted in said secondportion of said drum and communicating with the interior of said secondportion of said drum suction means communicating with the interior ofsaid tube for drawing air from said second portion of said drum throughsaid tube so as to thereby draw fresh air into said second portion ofsaid drum through said open exit end thereof, said suction means alsodrawing air through said hollow support means and said third portion ofsaid drum to said tube, whereby the air passing through said hollowsupport means is heated by said source of infra-red rays and driesgranular material located in said third portion of said drum; spiralblade means fixedly mounted in said first portion of said drum forrotation therewith and for conveying material along said first portionof said drum; a pair of annular blade means respectively mounted betweensaid third portion of said drum and said first and second portionsthereof for conveying material from said first portion to said thirdportion of said drum and r from said third portion of said drum to saidsec-- end portion thereof; and heating means mounted adjacent saidhollow support for preheating air passing through the same.

16. Apparatus for treating granular material, comprising in combination,a rotatably mounted hollow drum having a closed entrance end and an openexit end, said entrance end of said drum being located at a higherelevation than said exit end thereof so that the axis of rotation ofsaid drum is downwardly inclined toward the exit end thereof, said drumhaving a first portion located adjacent said entrance end thereof, asecond portion located adjacent said exit end thereof and a thirdportion located between said first and sec- 0nd portions, said secondand third portions of said drum each having an inner fluted surface, andsaid drum being formed with perforations between said second and thirdportions thereof; hollow stationary support means mounted in said firstportion of said drum and communicating with the exterior of said drumthrough said closed entrance end thereof, said hollow support meansbeing formed with a plurality of apertures; a source of infra-red raysmounted in said hollow support means, said source of infra-red raysfilling said apertures of said support mean so as to close the same andcommunicating with the interior of said first portion of said drumthrough said apertures; and air conducting means mounted about said drumbetween said second and third portions thereof so as to communicate withthe interior of said drum through said perforations, said air conductingmeans comprising a suction means for drawing fresh air into said secondportion of said drum through said open exit end thereof and for drawingair through said hollow support means and said third portion of saiddrum, whereby said air passing through said hollow support means isheated by said source of infra-red rays so as to dry material in saidthird portion of said drum.

17. Apparatus for treating granular material, COKE ing, in combination,a rotatably mounted holloJ drum having an entrance end and an open exitend; supply means communicating with said entrance end of said drum forsupplying granular mate ial thereto; guide means located in said drumfor guiding granular material supplied thereto from said entrance endthereof to said ext end thereof; heating means located in said drumdistant from said exit end thereof for heating granular material in saiddrum moving toward said exit end thereof so as to dry the granularmaterial; a conduit extending into said drum substantially along theaxis thereof through said exit end thereof and being formed with aninlet opening in the interior of said drum adjacent said exit endthereof; and fiuid moving means operatively connected to said conduitfor drawing iiuid into the same through said inlet openng thereof so asto thereby draw cooling air into the drum through said exit end thereofin counterfiow to the granular material adjacent said exit end of drumand so as to draw the cooling air out of aid drum through said conduitin the same direction that the granular material moves in said drum.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 1,545,055 Lindha-rd July 7, 1925 2,264,646 Spears Dec. 2, 19412,347,407 Goodwin et al. Apr. 25, 1944 2,354,567 Adt July 25, 19442,388,917 Hormel Nov. 13, 1945 2,428,090 Nacher et al Sept. 30, 19%?2,572,678 Torres Oct. 23, 1951 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date10,888 Great Britain 1890

